The New Orleans Zephyrs had been looking for an opportunity to get parent affiliate the Miami Marlins to play a game at Zephyr Field for a few years. It just so happens when the Marlins looked at their schedule several months ago, they noticed a three-day gap between their final spring training game and their April 1 season opener at the Washington Nationals.

So the opportunity to reward the Triple-A affiliate and get in a little extra work created the opportunity for Major League Baseball to return to New Orleans for the first time since 1999. The Marlins and Zephyrs will play an exhibition game at Zephyr Field on March 30 at 1 p.m.

“There was interest in playing another game, so when that happened we talked to our partners in the Zephyrs and they had interest in making it work, so we got it done,” Marlins director of player development Brian Chattin said. “We appreciate all of what the Zephyrs' front office and the affiliate have done for us. It’s a good partnership and we are happy to be there and it’s just a good opportunity to play a game.”

The exhibition game marks the first time a Major League team has played in New Orleans since April 4, 1999, when the Houston Astros, then the Zephyrs’ parent club, came in town to take on the Zephyrs. It has been a long wait in between for New Orleans, though the Marlins and Zephyrs have only been affiliated for five years.

“From that perspective it gives young people, kids and anybody an opportunity to see a Major League team come in,” said Zephyrs executive director Ron Maestri, whose club signed a two-year extension with the Marlins organization this past fall to remain an affiliate through the 2014 season. “We’re excited because a number of those players that the parent club have not only right now but in the future will or have come through here.”

Several players on both clubs have either come through here or have local ties, such as rookie shortstop Austin Nola, who was an All-American at LSU last year and former Zephyrs catcher Rob Brantly. Local favorite Logan Morrison will be on the trip but is not expected to play in the exhibition game because of an injury.

Both teams will break spring training with their rosters fairly set, though there is the likelihood that some of the players will trade uniforms throughout the season as players are moved up and others are designated for assignment.

“I think some of the Zephyrs' guys will definitely be Marlins at some point in the year,” Chattin said. “If they didn’t make the big-league club out of the camp, if they perform well, they will get their opportunity to play there during the year. That’s the part of Triple-A baseball that is exciting.”

The Marlins, meanwhile, bring in a fairly young team that is short on star power outside of home run hitter Giancarlo Stanton. But the club, which also has a few serviceable veterans like outfielder Juan Pierre, has a chance to be competitive under first-year manager Mike Redmond.

“It’s a real good blend of talented youth and experienced veteran players who have been around the game a long time and had really great careers,” Chattin said. “So we think the team out of the gate is going to be a nice club.”

The Zephyrs estimated this week they have sold in the neighborhood of 5,600 tickets for the game, but the club remains optimistic those numbers will increase as the game draws closer.

A strong showing at the gate will make it likely the city will not have to wait another 14 years before a Major League team comes back to New Orleans.

“We’re hoping in the next two weeks that we get a lot of groups and some good walk up,” Maestri said. “A good crowd would be indicative of them wanting to come back in the future.”